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Evaluation & Outcomes

Evaluation is carefully collecting information about something in order to make necessary decisions about it. Nonprofit organizations - and funders - are increasingly interested in outcomes-based evaluation to find the most efficient and effective way to meet the mission. This information and articles on this page strive to assist you in making meaning of the evaluation process.

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Center members can save 15% on organizational membership or $200 on BoardSource's board self-assessment service. BoardSource members get complimentary access to BoardSource's collection of white papers, webinars, and more. They also get member discounts on their print or digital copies of their books, such as Board Fundamentals: Understanding Roles in Nonprofit Governance and The Source: Twelve Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards.
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Untangling the Elements of Impact

Source: Blue Avocado

This excerpt from The Sustainability Mindset: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions examines the elements of impact, and suggests a variety of criteria you can use to evaulate your organization's impact.

4 Tips for Measuring Outcomes Instead of Activities

Jason Saul, Founder & CEO of Mission Measurement LLC and presenter at some of the Center's past workshops, shares some great tips on measuring outcomes, not activities, on Philanthropy.com's Measuring Up blog.

Effective Nonprofit Evaluation

Source: TCC Group

This paper defines the Community of Leaders (CoL) evaluation model and provides a step-by-step guide showing how to create and develop a community of learners for evaluative learning and decision making across a wide range of nonprofits.Read more...

This report reflects on various strategies and techniques used to build evaluation capacity among groups of grantees and offers recommendations for funders considering an evaluation capacity building initiative.
Read the report from the Innovation Network.

Expanding Stakeholder Involvement in Evaluation

Source: Innovation Network

This paper shares some techniques used to give evaluation participants a more active role in the review and analysis of their evaluation data. It also discusses the benefits and challenges of the participatory analysis process.
Read the paper from the Innovation Network.

More on Evaluations

Source: Blue Avocado

In a follow up to an article, Blue Avocado reviewed feedback from readers and adapted a survey format of an evaluation for the Executive Director. Learn more about their process and download an easy to modify version of the tool.
Read the article from Blue Avocado.

Board Self-Assessment Tool

The Board Self-Assessment Questionnaire helps New Hampshire nonprofit boards identify how the board might be strengthened and assists boards in identifying priorities for board development activities. The tool now includes the option of online administration and tabulation of the results.Read More